I often get asked, “How do you do it all?” or something similar, and I also often hear that I appear to have such balance. Well, I must make it look really easy because 1. I don’t do it all and 2. I have zero balance. Some one actually used the word “glamour” recently and, as sweet as the comment was, I laughed out loud. That said, I thought it might be a good idea to share what a typical workday looks like for me lately. Todd and I take turns with morning kid-duty but here’s an example of what my day looks like when it’s my turn to drop the girls off.
5:40 am: Alarm starts to sound. I hit snooze.
5:49 am: Snooze again.
5:58 am: Snooze once more.
6:07 am: Check my phone. Respond to messages and comments. Block 20-30 creepy men who followed me over night. Post my daily photo.
6:30 am: Get in the shower (20 minutes later than I should have)
6:45 am: Start getting ready for work
7:30 am: Go upstairs to get A ready for school (20 minutes later than I should have) and pray that she’s in a good mood and is cooperative.
7:32 am: Rush her to move faster even though it’s my fault we have to rush. Defiance, frustration, and tears ensue.
7:50 am: Go downstairs, pop 2 waffles in the toaster for A and give her a yogurt squeeze pouch because there’s no way she’s getting to school before 8:00 when breakfast ends.
7:51 am: Load my stuff in the car. Chances are I didn’t pack lunch the night before and I don’t have time to make one so I go to work sans lunch.
7:52 am: Wake up E, change her diaper, and put her glasses on.
7:55 am: Load kids in the car.
8:05 am: Drop A off at school (5 min past the end of breakfast), waffles and yogurt pouch in hand.
8:15 am: Drop E off at my mom’s house.
8:20 am: Head to work (20 minutes later than I should have). Check and answer emails and comments at stop lights (shhh… I know).
9:20 am: Get to work (20 minutes later than I should have – if I’m lucky and there’s no accident on the way there, of course)
9:30 am: Put the yogurt that was supposed to be my breakfast in the office fridge and go straight into meetings.
12:00 pm: Think about how hungry I am but get so engrossed in emails, messages, comments, and work that I lose track of time.
12:50 pm: “Oh crap, I have a 1:00 meeting. I should eat something”
12:55 pm: Eat my breakfast for lunch.
1:00 pm: Meetings start again.
2:00 pm: Starving. Must find food. Eat junk.
5:00 pm: Meetings end. Actual work begins.
6:30-7:00 pm: Leave my office.
8:00pm: Get home.
8:15 pm: Start putting E to bed while Todd puts A to bed. Before I got home, he picked them up, cooked and fed them dinner, and gave them baths. He does it all. He’s amazing.
9:15 pm: Leave E’s room after rocking her and singing songs.
9:15 pm: Pick up toys. Clean up any messes laying around.
9:20 pm: Eat dinner.
10:00 pm: Blog. Prep my social media posts for the next day. Answer emails, messages, and comments.
1:00-2:00 am: Go to bed after falling asleep at my laptop.
#LatherRinseRepeat
If you’re reading this and thinking that I’m doing life wrong, you’re probably right. Actually you are right. It used to not be this way but little by little, I have ended up working later and later every night. My commute doesn’t help, either.
Despite my fear of being judged as a terrible mom (because I feel like one a lot), I thought it was important to write this because social media has a way of making things look easy, perfect, and effortless. But knowing this fact, I would be neglecting my purpose as a blogger if I didn’t show you the reality of my life, despite the appearance thereof. It’s hard and exhausting and I miss my family during the week. Motherhood in and of itself is hard and exhausting, regardless of whether you work away from home, at home, or are a SAHM, am I right?! It’s crazy and chaotic but it’s a blessing for which I’m grateful.
So no, I don’t do it all; I barely do any of “it” and I don’t balance well at all. But, I’m working on it and hope to see some improvement soon. I know you’re probably thinking I should just ditch the blog but I can’t. I won’t. This is the thing I do for me.
So, there’s my day in the life. Share yours with me!
Update: I did make a change. Read aboutthat here.
Hi Shannon. So happy to see that you’ve rebranded and changed your site name. I love reading your blog, but to be honest, sometimes I find myself hesitant to share your posts because of the name. Silly, I know. I’m don’t consider myself a working mom, but I also don’t “label” myself a “sahm” either. I guess I’m somewhere in-between. I think your new name is more relatable, and I love it! Happy New Year, mama! Can’t wait to read what you’re up to in 2017! xo, Lauren
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Thank you, Lauren! Thanks so much for the feedback and the kindness! I appreciate your support!
Thank you for sharing this. It’s all so true, and it’s nice to know I’m not alone. Cheers to doing the best we can. Love your blog!
Thank you, Angela! I appreciate your support!
Oh My Goodness. That was amazing! Thank you for being so transparent. The kicker was checking comments and emails at the stop light (guilty!!!). Wow, I’m really enjoying following you so far, and it’s only been like an hour.
Thank you so much for reading and for the support! I appreciate it more than you know!
Thank God for amazing husbands!! Thanks for sharing it’s always nice to know I am not the only crazy person.
Right?! I couldn’t do it without him! And, you’re so not the only one!
Wow that’s a long, exhausting day! You are awesome!
Oh I don’t know about that… tired definitely but awesome is questionable. LOL. Thanks so much!
Much respect to you Shannon!! It is such a struggle trying to be a good mom and employee. I wish I had some amazing advice to make your life easier, but I simply share many of the same (yet different) struggles. You’re doing awesome!! Happy Friday!!
Aww thank you so much! The mom struggle is real! So happy to have your support! xo
Great post, thank you! Glad to know I’m not the only one trying to keep it all afloat!!
Thank you so much for reading! You’re definitely not alone!
Such a great post! I don’t think balance exists for any mom! We’re all just trying to keep our babies alive and happy and as normal as possible. Ha. Keep doing what works for you!
Yes!! I don’t know that this “works” for me but we’re surviving! 😉
Thanks for reading and for your kindness!
Girl I can SO relate to your mornings! You’re doing a great job – I don’t think balance really exists for any mom <3
It doesn’t!! Thanks so much for reading and for the love!
It’s always hard to find balance, no matter what your working situation is.
Balance? What’s that?! LOL Thanks so much for reading! You’re totally right.
Love your transparency! It’s so easy to look at someone else and assume so much about their life that’s not true. We all are seeking balance in this crazy thing we call life. You are doing a great job and I wouldn’t want you to give up your blog.
Thank you, Ayanna! I appreciate it so much! I’m convinced that balance doesn’t exist. 😉
I am so feeling you today. How encouraging it is {in some crazy, delusional sort of way} that there are others who don’t have it all together, even though they appear to {probably none of us, actually}. I hold myself to an incredibly high standard and almost never meet it. Thank you for sharing this.
It SO comforting knowing that no one else has it together, either! Thank you so much for reading!! xo
It’s nice to know there is loads of us out there doing the same everyday to provide for our family’s.
For sure! We’re definitely not alone!
Wow! Sounds similar to my days! You are doing a great job 🙂
Ah! If your days are like mine, you’re doing a great job, too!
Oh my dear! I think we may be on the same wavelength of crazy busy day! You are incredible girlie as you keep at it each day! And can we just take a moment LOL at the creepy men on IG part!
Bahaha! I seriously get FLOODED with creepers!! How do they find me?!?! LOL
Thanks for reading… I hope you’re not as tired as I am! 🙂
Sounds a LOT like my days ! Haha!
Which means you’re just as tired as me! Keep your head up, Mama!!
Thank you for sharing. I don’t do near all that you do , but as a newer working mom who feels like every other mom never seems to struggle, it’s nice to know we are all doing a great job and doing what is best fervour families. Thank-you for sharing. You are an extraordinary mom and inspiration!
All in a day Momma! Sounds like you have a great partner too!
I have the BEST partner! We wouldn’t survive without him!!
LOL dying over the block creepy men!!! I’m right with you girl! glad I’m not alone in the block zone. Thank you for sharing this transparent view of what being a working mom looks like!!
Yaaaas girl! Gotta keep the creepy dudes at bay!! Thanks for reading! xp
Phew, your day in the life sounds about as chaotic as mine! I, too, often have 9pm dinners. You’re rocking it though!
And by time I get around to eating, it’s cold and unappetizing so I usually end up eating cereal instead!
I get this all the time! And I take it as a compliment because really my mantra for each day is “Just keep swimming!”
You work longer hours than I do and still have time for this gorgeous blog. Good for you mama!
It’s super hard. But we make it work. And I think our kids turn out ok! I just posted a day in the life on Friday if you want to check it out. <3
Thank you, Lacey! I will need to check it out! And thank you for your kind words!! xo
You are an inspiration!! This looks so much like my schedule! Stay at home Mom’s are a full time job! That is for sure! Thank you for being real!
Working moms. SAHM’s. It’s all hard work! Thanks for the love!!
Shannon, thank you for sharing this!! It’s amazing to see all that you do! I love it – definitely inspired me!
Thank you, Shannan! I hope it inspired you to take naps as often as you can! LOL
You are doing a fabulous job! As a working mom myself, my schedule is practically identical to yours. We are are own worst critics, but really you are a great mom.
Thank you, April! At least we’re in it together!
It’s so difficult to balance everything. You’re doing a great job.
Thank you SO much!!
Shannon – thank you so much for sharing this! I am a “new” working mom with a demanding job to an 8 month old and often struggle with balance as well. The day to day grind can be so challenging and I don’t think everyone understand how hard being a working mom is. I respect ALL mamas (duh) but I often feel like I take care of people all day at work and then my family gets the short end of the stick! People ask me how I do it as well – I think this type of transparency and openness is so key! I might have to do a post like this in the near future!!
Because of my busy schedule I’ve often struggled with creating a strong community with other BLOGGERS, as I don’t always have time to like, comment, follow, share, go out of my way, etc, etc – but I know this is so important and a large part of what blogging is!! Do you have any high level tips for this? You are so great at it!
Love following you!
<3 Kayla
Yes!! I was seriously nodding my head while reading every line you just wrote. Thank you!! I’m probably the wrong person to ask for tips because I don’t sleep. LOL But, thank you for the love and support! Truthfully, I use Instagram and FB blogger groups to connect and am often doing that when I should be doing other things!
Aww mama!! You are so amazing! It’s so much to do in a 24 hour day my goodness but your doing a great job!
Thank you so much!!
You’re amazing!!!!!!! Seriously so much to do on any given day! <3
Aww, thank girlfriend! You’re pretty amazing, too.
Wow girl. Kudos to you for just fitting it all in every day! Kids do not take a day off so everything else usually suffers but you’re getting it done and then some! Treat yo self!
Oh girl, I’m certainly not fitting it “all” in – there are lots of things that have just flat out been abandoned due to lack of time. But thank you so much for your kindness and support!
Hahah I did a post like this a few months ago. It’s crazy to look at our schedules broken down like this and think… how the heck are we fitting it all in?
You did? I need to check it out! And, we’re not… at least I’m not… there’s a lot that just flat out doesn’t happen and I’ve accepted it.
Girlfrand! You are doing amazing!!! Mommin’ is HARD!!!! Our day is very similar to yours…except, kudos to you for getting up early! 🙂 I homeschool all 3 of my kids, plus keeping up with my blog, and work, and extra curricular activities…it is exhausting. Just trying to stay above water some days is easier said than done. I have learned to accept the fact that there are only so many hours in a day, and I need sleep! LOL!! You are doing a great job!!! XOXOX
SO hard and SO exhausting! Survival mode for sure… I need to work on getting more sleep!
I can completely relate! My schedule looks a lot like yours. It think we just need more hours in the day!
Yaaaas! But we’d probably fill those up, too! LOL
I love your last line…this is what I do for me.
Being a working Mom with 2 kids is tough (I’m in the same boat). My husband works in construction and therefore works long hours 6 days a week from May to Nov and then his schedule backs off a bit. I work full-time and am the parent responsible for pretty much everything since we don’t see him much. So when I started an online business back in April, people looked at me like I was crazy (and, hey, maybe I am).
But, what I found is…I’ve found something I love to do…and that’s important…and you’re last line totally clicked with me…got to find something for ourselves, because, as important as our families are (and oh they are), you have to keep a piece of yourself…for you 🙂
I’m glad blogging brings you this joy and I certainly have loved following your journey the past few months….so please keep it up!
Girl, it can be so tough! Thank you so much for sharing and for your support and kindness! It means so much!
Oh and btw, I wanted to share a plugin that should help keep your spam at bay (it totally eliminated all of those spam comments, when nothing else would) https://wordpress.org/plugins/no-comments/ No Comments plugin, for wordpress
Let me know how this works for you.
Thank you!! The creepy men I block are actually on Instagram. I don’t really get spam comments on WP but thanks for the tip!
This is so honest. I’ve always been a stay at home mom. This gave me a better understanding of what a day is like for working moms. You are a great mom!! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you, Leah! I appreciate your kindness and support!
You´re doing great mama!! Your day looks an awful lot like mine but hey, we´re doing the best we can right? Keep up the great work!
We totally are! Thank you, Mama! You, too!
One of my biggest struggles as a parent is realizing that I simply CAN’T do it all and it’s hard to admit that I can’t. You are doing a GREAT job but I do have to say that I hate what time you have to wake up in the morning! XOXO
Thank you! I hate it, too! I am so not a morning person!!
Thank you for your transparency! I have really enjoyed following your blog for a while and it’s always nice to get know the person behind the blog. You’re doing a great job!
Thank you, Lauren! I appreciate the support so much!
You’re doing an amazing job! I’ve learned that I can’t do it all, and learned how to accept it. I love my blog and it’s my happy” besides my family of course.
Yes! Totally! Thank you so much!
Omg that sounds heartbreaking to me!!! I’m so sorry to hear all of that! You’re doing a great job – the best you can!!! As a mother, whichever path we choose will be difficult and exhausting and wracked with guilt!
I had an amazing career in fashion that took me away often and made me work very long hours, two hours away. Once I started having kids (my dream ever since I was little), I knew I’d have to give it all up – there was no way I could keep that job and be a mother when my husband also worked 80 hours per week – someone or something had to give. And that was me…and it took me close to two years to get over that….
Ten years later (and 3 more kids), I’m still at home and blogging now for ME, my creative outlet/sanity. And to me, working moms with kids are my heroes. It was never really an option for me. But I understand the sacrifices you’re making and my hat goes off to you!!!!
Keep on doing what you’re doing! You’re doing a wonderful job and you look great (Isn’t that what’s most important anyway?)!!!
God Bless you and your beautiful family.
Thanks for reading and sharing your story! And, thank you for your kind words!
You ar doing a good job. I would love to stay at home with my little one but I need to work so we can afford to have a life. Daddy’s salary is not so big so mummy can be home. I wish. Don’t give up on your blog either. It is what keeps you sane. At least this is what it is for me.
Thank you so much! I think that’s the case for a lot of people!